Means and method of operating well pumps



Feb. 21, 1939. H. M SALENTINE MEANS AND METHOD OF OPERA'IING WELL PUMPSA Filed NOV. 8, 1935 5 Sheets-$heet l RETURN PRODI/6 TION UP STROKE M'FURN OWN STROKE RETURN HERBERT M. SALENTINE Feb. 21, 1939.l H. M. SALENTINE 2,147,924 MEANS AND METHOD @1v-OPERATING WELL PUMPS Filed Nov. 8, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 RETURN '9 a PPOOUG T/ON Y- HPODUG T/ON Feb. 21, 1939.

MEANS A'ND Filed Nov. 8, 1955 H, M. SALENTINE METHOD OF OPERATING WELLPUMPS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 @WBK Feb. 21, 1939. H. M, SALENTINE MEANS AND vMETHOD OF OPERATING WELL PUMPS Filed Nov. 8, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fla/3 HERBERT M. SALENTINE QMLSLN` Feb.'2l, V1939.,v v H. M SALENTINE MEANS AND METHOD OF OPERATING WELL PUMPS Filed Nov. 8, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 2i, 1939 UNITED STATES MEANS AND METHOD 0F OPERATING WELL PUDIPS Herbert Ml. Salentina, Los Angeles, Calif. Application November i935, Serial No. 48,823

l0 Claims.

My invention relates to means and method of operating well pumps and the objects of my invention are: y

First: to provide an apparatus of this character which is hydraulically operated and4 which eliminatesor reduces to a minimum the use of sucker rods, thereby minimizingv the attendant difculties inherent in the use of sucker rods such as the wear of the rods and tubing, the agitationof the oil caused by the reciprocation of the sucker rods andA the yresulting tendency to free gas from the oil, and 'further to eliminate the need of counterbalances or other` devices for counteracting the dead weight of sucker rods.

Second: to provide a hydraulic control for well pumps wherein the ratio between the pumping and return strokes of a pump connected with the operating apparatus may be readily and quickly adjusted.

Third: to provide an apparatus'and method of operating well pumps which is inherently flexible in that the apparatus and method may be readily varied to meet the various well conditions.

Fourth: to provide an apparatus of this character which, although accomplishing by hydraulic means the operation of a well pump, is so designed that the actuating or Working parts contained 'within the well boreare reduced to a minimum and are inherently capable of continued operation over long periods of time without repair or inspection. i Y

Fifth: to provide an apparatus of thischaracter which operates a conventional well pump `for4its operation may be kept at a minimum.

Seventh: to provide a novel control Vvalve which is adapted to deliver fluid alternately to two channels, and which incorporates means for reversing the flow from one channel to the other upon the pressure reaching a predetermined value therein.

Eighth: to provide a method ofoperating wen pumps wherein a reciprocator is caused to reverse its direction by reason' of a predetermined (Cl. Ri-46) increase in pressure created when the reciprocator reaches both or one end of its stroke.

Ninth: to provide Va method of operating well pumps wherein back pressure is applied in such a manner as to cause return movement of the pump, actuating fluid is applied to cause the pumping stroke of the pump,` and an arbitrary interval of time is interposed between application of such actuating fluid to permit return movement of the pump in response to said back pressure. Y

Tenth: to provide an apparatus of this character which incorporates a novel production column back pressure control and stroke timing regulator.

With these and other objects in View as may appear hereinafter, reference is made to the A accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical view of my means for actuating well pumps, illustrating one method of its operation wherein a reciprocator is connected `by an actuating Vstring and production string with a pump vand control valve arranged in such a manner that the up stroke or pumping stroke of the reciprocator is accomplished by hydraulic pressu're in the actuating string, while the down stroke is accomplished through pressure introduced in the production string.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatical View illustrating a modified method of operating well pumps wherein a reciprocator is connected with the surface through three sets of tubing strings.

in such a manner that the production fluid does not come in contact with the actuating uid, and the casingforms one of the tubing strings communicating with the return side of the reciprocator.

Fig. 3 illustrates a further modied'method of utilizing my means for actuating well pumps wherein the casing and a single tubing string suilices to supply the necessary actuating fluid to the reciprocator.

Fig. 3A is a diagrammatical sectional view through 3A3A of Fig. 3, showing the arrangement of the reciprocator as modied for utilizing the method illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 1s another diagrammatical view' illustrailing a modified means and method of actuating well pumps wherein the production fluid is isolated from the actuating uid yet serves as a link in the system operable to cause return stroke of the' reciprocator and arranged to permit variation in lthe relative time intervals of the actuating and return strokes. A

Fig. 5 is a graph illustrative of the relative 4time commonly called macaroni.

intervals of the up and down strokes of the re- Iciprocator and pump, made possible with the means and method illustrated in Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and '1 are schematic views illustrating the mode of operation of the means and method illustrated in Fig. 4. y

Fig. 8 is a. transverse sectional view through the back pressure and stroke timing regulator taken through 8-8 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is longitudinal sectional view thereof with parts and portions in elevation taken through 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the control valve structure.

Fig. 11 is a partially sectional, partially front elevational view thereof taken through II-II of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof taken through I2-I2 of Fig. 11, with parts and portions shown in elevation.

Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view through I3-I3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view through one of the relief valve units taken through I4-I4 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of the reciprocator taken through I5-I5 of Figs. 1 and 4.

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatical sectional view taken through Iii- I6 of Fig. l, illustrating the relationship of the reclprocator to a pump unit located a considerable distance below the reciprocator.

Fig. 1'1 is a similar view illustrating a modied arrangement wherein the pump unit is located in proximity to the reciprocator.

Fig. 18 is a transverse sectional view of the recprocator taken through I8-I8 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 19 is another transverse sectional view thereof taken through I9-I9 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 20 is another transverse sectional view taken through 20-20 of Fig. 15.

Fig.21 is another transverse sectional view taken through 2I-2I of Fig.'15.

Fig. 22 is another transverse sectional View taken through 22-22 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view through 28-28 of Fig. 2, illustrating a slightly modified form of the reciprocator for connecting the return side of the reciprocator with the interior of the casing.

Fig. 24 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken through 24--24 of Fig. 23.

My means for actuating'well pumps comprises generally a reciprocator I, a control valve structure 2, anda pump 3 driven by any suitable means, not shown.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, there is added a back pressure regulator and stroke timing controller 4. The reciprocator is supported within a well Acasing 5 by means of a tubing string 6 which, in the majority of arrangements illustrated, is adapted to receive small tubing 1, The reciprocator is connected either directly to a conventional reciprocatingwell pump 8 or indirectly through production string 9. In certain of the arrangements, as will be brought out hereinafter, a packer I may be interposed in the production string 8.

The reciprocator I is encased in a shell II which is provided at its upper end with a reducing coupling I2 joined to the tubing string B. The lower end of the shell I I is joined to a lower cylinder head I8, which also serves as a nipple between the shell II and a lower reducing coupling I4. This is joined either directly to a pump unit 8 or to a production string 9. Above its connection with the shell II, the lower cylinder. head I3 is reduced in diameter and is secured to the lower end of a cylinder I which extends upwardly within the shell II to form therewith a passage designated A. The upper end of the cylinder I5 is closed by an upper cylinder head I6, which head is provided with lugs I1 engaging the inner walls of the shell II to center the cylinder therein. The cylinder I5 receives a piston I8 from which depends a connecting rod I9. The connecting rod I9 extends through a packing gland provided in the bottom cylinder head. l

It is conventional practice to provide in the lower end of the well casing 5, a liner 5a which is of smaller diameter and extends beyond the casing into the producing zone. Sometimes this liner may be several hundred or, in the deeper wells, several thousand feet long. In the event that a well is so provided with a restricted liner, my reciprocator is mounted immediately above the liner, and the production string 9 is utilized to position the pump 8 at the proper depth.

In the event that the production string 9 is used,- the connecting rod I9 is joined immediately below the lower cylinder head to a traveling valve 20 of conventional construction; the arrangement being such that very. little space is left between the lower cylinder head and traveling valve when the piston is at the top of its stroke.

The traveling valve 20vis joined to the upper end of a sucker rod string 2l which extends to the pump 8 and is attached to the conventional traveling valve 22 thereof. Below the traveling valve 22, the pump is, of course, provided with the usual standing valve 23.

In the event that it is possible to mount the pump in contiguous relation to the reciprocator, the connecting rod I9 is connected directly to the traveling valve 22 of the pump 8, as shown in Fig. 17.

The bottom cylinder head is provided with a series of passages 24 which communicate between /the interior of the coupling I4 and the passage A formed between the cylinder I5 and shell II. These passages 24 are provided with check valves 25 which permit upward flow of fluid from the pump into passage A but prevent return flow.

The piston I8 is provided with a port 26 therethrough which is connected at its upper terminus with an upstanding tube 21. The tube 21 extends through a packing gland provided iri the upper cylinder head and is loosely encased in a sleeve 28 secured at its lower end in the upper cylinder head. The upper end of the sleeve 28 is constricted and provided with a beveled or tapered. bore therethrough adapted to receive the tapered lower end of the macaroni tubing 1, as shown best in Figs. 15 and 18. The lower portion of the macaroni 1 is provided with a suitable spider for centering the macaroni in the tubing string 6 and facilitating connection with the sleeve 28.

The upper cylinder head I6 is provided immediately below each lug I1 with a port 29 cornmunicating between the passage A and the chamber designated B above the piston I8. The interior o'f the "macaronY 1 communicates through the sleeve 28, stem 21, and port 26 with a chamber C below the piston. Snubbing springs 30 are provided in each of the chambers B and C to cushion the piston at the ends of its stroke.

I'he reciprocator l is connected in various manners to the control valve 2 located at the well mouth; said control valve is illustrated particularlyin Figs. to 14 inclusive, and attention is now directed thereto.

The control valve .includes a housing 3i having an axially extending valve bore 32 therein which may be provided with a suitable wear resisting lining. 'I'he valve bore 32 receives a substantially cylindrical valve member 33 which is adapted to oscillate about its axis. Above the valve bore, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, there is provided an intake port 34 having an axially extending slotted communication with the valve bore. Onopposite sides of the intake port 34 are return outlet ports 35 and 36, which intersect the valve bore in the form of slots extending longitudinally therewith slightly below a plane extending horizontally through the valve bore. Along the lower side of the valve body or housing 3l are provided two longitudinally extending delivery-discharge ports 31 and 38, which likewise intersect the valve bore in the iorm of slots located on either side or its vertical axis and below the intersection of the return outlet ports 35 and 36.

transverse offset relation with the axis of the valve member 33 is a cylinder 42 closed at its ends by cylinder headsm43 and containing a piston 44. The ends of th'e'ipiston 44 are provided with connesting rods 45, which extend outwardly through packing glands provided in the heads 33 and are connected by laterally upward extending link members 46 with a counter-shaft 41. Adjacent each link 45, the counter-shaft 41 is provided with an externally threaded, iixed sleeve 48, which receives an internally threaded adjustable sleeve 49. Each adjustable sleeve is provided at its end remote from 4the link 36, with an adjustable stop 53. Each adjustablestop 53 clears the shaft 41 to receive a spring 5l which bears against a constriction provided within the corresponding sleeve 33. Between the two springs 5l is slidably mounted a collar 52.

vrIhe forward end of the valve 33 is provided with a stem 53 which extends through a packing gland 54 provided in the forward end of the 'valve housing 3i, and receives a crank arm 55.

with the discharge ports 31 and 38. Each relief valve( defines two passages, designated 53 and 59,

, between its points of connection with the cylcess of a predetermined value, so that a portion ofthe fluid may be caused Ito ilow into the corresponding end of the cylinder 42 and urge the piston 44. to the opposite end thereof. Thevpas'- sage 59 of each pressure relief valve is controlled by a check valve Bi operating in the opposite direction to the valve 60, and having only a nominal loading s o that fluid may be readily discharged from the cylinder 42 back to the valve housing. The particular operation of thel pressure relief valve. cylinder 42, and associated'mechanism will be brought out in more detail hereinafter.

.The structures so far described are common to the-various combinations in which my apparatus may be assembled in order to execute the methods of actuating well pumps, as will be set forth hereinafter. With the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, however, is the ladded device previously referred to as the back pressure regulator and stroke timing controller. 1i having a production receiving port 12 at one end, a production discharge port 13 intermediate its ends, and an actuating iiuid port 14 at its other end. The ends of the cylinder are closed by heads 15 and 1G having packing glands therein through which extend stems 11 and 13 respectively. The

outer' portions of said stemsfare externally' threaded and extend through internally threaded sleeves 19 and B0 which are anchored to the heads This device comprises a cylinder 15 and 16 so that by turning the stems 11 or 18 they may be moved axially in and out of the cylinder. The inner ends of the stems 11 and 18 are provided with stops Bi and 32. Between the stops 8i and 82 is slidably mounted a piston 83, and interposed between the sides of the piston and corresponding stops are springs 34 and 85 to cushion the piston at each end of its stroke. As viewed in Fig. 9, the piston B3 divides the cylinder 1l into an upper chamber D communicating with the actuating uid port 14 and a lower chamber E communicating with the production intake port 12. stroke, it is snubbed by spring 35 and does not open the production discharge port 13 unless the pressure in the lower chamber E exceeds a predetermined amount, depending upon the adjust- When the piston is at the upper end of its,

ment of the stem 13. The stroke or displacement l within the tubing string 6, and around the maca-` roni i may be termed the production column. Pressure is alternately built up in the macaroni'l and tubing string by means oi' the control valve 2; the intake port 34 of which is connected to the discharge end of the pump 3. When the valve member 33 is in the position indicated in Fig. 1,

In operation, 'the macathe pump delivers liquid to the macaroni causing the pistonV I3 of the reciprocator to move upward until checked by the upper .spring 30;.

whereupon the pressure within the macaronif builds up until the valve 53 of the corresponding pressure relief valve structure51 opens so as to introduce liquidwinto the. corresponding end of the cylinder 32 of the control valve, and forces the piston thereof to move toward the other end. This shifts the valve 33 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the `position shown in Fig. 13, so that the pump 3 now delivers liquid to the production column in tubing 6 until the piston le of the reciprocator moves to the lower end of its stroke and suicient pressure is built up in the production column to open'the corresponding pressure relief valve 60 and cause movement of the piston ll, and thereby valve 33, back to the position shown in Fig. l. 'I'he discharge port 35 cornmunicates with the delivery-discharge port 31, and, therefore, receives the actuating oil when it returns from the actuating column. Similarly, the discharge port 36 communicates with the delivery-discharge port 38 and receives oil from the production column. The oil issuing from the production column during up stroke of the reciprocator piston I8 includes the quantity of oil displaced from chamber B, plus the oil delivered through standing valves 25 by means of the pump 8. i

Both discharge ports 35 and 36 are connected with a storage tank 8l, but on opposite sides of a filter element 92 therein. The intake side of the pump 3 is connected with the storage tank on the same side of the filter 92 as the discharge port 35 which communicates with the macaroni 1; while on the opposite side oi' the cylinder, that is, the side to which the discharge port 36 is connected, is provided a production outlet 93.

With the foregoing connections between the reciprocator I, control valve 2, pump 3, and storage tank BI, filtered production oil is utilized as the actuating fluid in the system. This oil by reason of the filter 82 and storage tank, is substantially free of deleterious matter. Production oil introduced by means of the pump 8 may contain more or less gas in the occiuded or dissolved state, or in the free state. The amount of this gas,rparticularly the free gas, may be minimized by drawing it oil through the casing 5; that is, externally of the tubing 6. By reason of the setting of the relief valves 51, the pump 3 contlnues to deliver oil to the production column in tubing 6 until suicient pressure has been built up to insure the return movement of the piston I8. Any such excess oil that may be delivered tends to be returned through the valve 2 during delivery to the macaroni by reason of the energy stored up in compressing whatever gas exists in the producing column,

If it is desirable and well conditions permit, a packer I may be interposed in the production string 8 below the reciprocator, as shown in Fig. 2. This enables the casing to be utilized for the down stroke .of the reciprocator by making only a slight change therein, as illustrated best in Figs. 23 and 24. Such ychange consists in providing ports 94 communicating between the exterior of the reciprocator and chamber B instead of between area A and said chamber. With such an arrangement, the space within the tubing string 6 is used for the production iluid only while the interior of the casing is utilized for actuating uid adapted to accomplish the down stroke of the reciprocator, and the macaroni" is used to accomplish the up stroke. This entirely isolates the production fluid from the actuating fluid and eliminates contamination of the actuating iiuid. For this reason, the discharge ports 35 and 36 may be connected together and deliver the actuating iiuid to a storage tank 95 from which the pump 3 receives its supply. y

With this arrangement, any gas accumulating under the packer is removed with the production oil and, in this connection, it should be noted that the arrangement of the pump and reciprocator is such that gas locking is prevented. In either of the arrangements shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the

standing valves 25, above the traveling valve or valves, support the weight of fluid in the production column. Considering Fig. 1'7 and assuming that the liquid level has dropped to the level of the pump, and the traveling valve draws a charge of gas into the lower chamber designated G, downward movement of the traveling valve transfers this gas to the upper chamber H immediately below the standing valves 25. Chamber H is sufficiently small when the traveling valve is in its upper position to raise the pressure of gas compressed therein to a point suilicient to open, the standing valves 25. In actual operating conditions, however, some oil will be drawn in with the gas, and only a small amount is necessary to insure delivery of production fluid through the standing valves 25. The same situation applies to the construction shown in Fig. 16 in which the chamber H is above the upper traveling valve 20, and chamber G ls below the lower traveling valve 22. Between the traveling valves is a dead space `J; that is, the lower standing valve 23, in conjunction with the lower traveling valve 22, forces fluid into the dead space J until sumcient pressure is built up to force a quantity through the upper traveling valve equal to that passing the lower traveling valve and, although this space may be several hundred feet in length, fluid is sure to be delivered as long as the ultimate pressure obtained in the chamber H exceeds the hydrostatic head against the upper standing valves 25.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the essential diierence over the preceding arrangements is that a pressure is maintained in the producing column at all times suilicient to over-balance the hydrostatic head in the actuating column when the pressure from the pump is removed. This is accomplished by means of the back pressure and stroke timing regulator 4. This device is interposed between the delivery-discharge port 38 and the producing column in such a manner that actuating uid from the delivery-discharge port 38 enters chamber D above the piston 83, as shown in Fig. 9, while the production column is connected with chamber E below the piston 83. The control Ivalvc connects the pump with the actuating column within the macaroni" 1 until the piston I8 of the reciprocator reaches its upper position, and the pressure builds up suiiiciently to operate the corresponding relief valve. Thereupon, the uid is delivered to chamber D of the regulator 4 until the piston 83 moves to the lower end of its stroke, and the pressure in chamber D builds up sufilciently to cause the control valve to throw back to its initial position. The interval required to move the piston 83 of the regulator from its upper to its lower position is arbitrary and is calculated to be greater than the time required for the piston I8 of the reciprocator to drop to its lower position. Regulation of this arbitrary interval is obtained by the adjusting screw 11 of the regulator and associated elements. 'Ihe piston v83 of the regulator ,also serves in conjunction with the adjusting screw 18 which limits its upward movement to maintain a back pressure on the production column; that is, the port 13 cannot open until the pressure Within the lower chamber E of the regulator exceeds a predetermined amount. This pressure, together with the hydrostatic head of the production column, normally over-balances the actuating column so that as soon as the pressure supplied by the pump 3 is removed from the actuating column, the piston I8 immediately drops to its lower position. Of course, the greater the distance between the reciprocator and well pump, the greater the force available to return the reciprocator piston I8 to its lower position.

It is preferred to install the reciprocator when utilized in this manner without a packer so that free gas may be drawn oil of the production fluid. Should the well tend to gas rather heavily, a conventional gas anchor may be associated with the pump 8 toinsure drawing into the pump solid oil. By this, it is meant oil which may havev dissolved or occluded gases but which contains practically no free gas under the pressures .existing at the pump. The production column vis more or less compressible due to the fact that as the pressure on the oil is relieved the dissolved gases separate and become free. However, the extent of compressibility, or the eiective volume of free gas in the production column, under the foregoing conditions is substantially constant for a given well, with the result that this compressibility may be utilized as a spring, This enables the chamber E of the regulator to have not only a lesser capacity than chamber B of the reciprocator, but also enables the capacity of the chamber E to be variable. The effect oi' this condition is Vbest illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. Assuming that .the capacity of the pump is one unit, the capacity of chamber B in the reciprocator is two units, and the capacity of chamber E is one unit, it follows, as shown in Fig. 7, that during the up stroke one unit is delivered into the production column below the reciprocator, three units are delivered therein immediately above the reciprocator, but only two units reach the regulator due to the fact that the po'rt 'I3 does not open until a predetermined pressure is reached. Consequently, the extra unit is absorbed in compressing slightly higher the free gas contained in the production column. On return stroke, as shown in Fig. 6, one unit is supplied from the chamber E of the regulator, and one unit is re-delivered by expansion of the compressed gas thereby supplying the necessary two units in chamber B of the reciprocator. This means ,that during the interval in which one unit of actuating oil is de-' livered in chamber D, the piston i8 of the reciprocator returns to its lower position, but two units must be delivered to the actuating column in the macaroni l in order to lift the piston. Thus With the delivery from the pump 3 constant, the down stroke requires only half the time as the up stroke. Furthermore, the relative intervals of the down stroke and up stroke may be widely varied. This is illustrated graphically in Fig.4 5 in which the solid lines indicate a cycle in which the two strokes are of equal duration, and the dotted lines indicate a cycle in' which the down stroke is of shorterduration. Obviously, by varying the capacity of chamber E, the relative-intervals of the down stroke and up stroke may be varied at will- Y' This control afforded over the strokes of the pump is of primary importance, for the larger the percentage of the cycle occupied by the up stroke, the more uniform is the flow of oil into the; pump and the slower is the peak velocity of the incoming oil for a given pumping rate.

With any of the constructions illustrated, it is possible to mount the reciprocator l above the liner, or other constriction that may exist in the well bore, and position the well pump B vat any depth below. This enables the piston area of the reciprocator to be larger if need be than the Well pump, so that the pressure required in the pump 3 is maintained at a reasonable value even though the liquid level in the well is extremely low.

As brought out in the foregoing description of l my pump operating apparatus, my method of operation consists essentially in reciprocating a piston located within a well bore by iiuid pressure alternately directed on opposite sides thereof, and utilizing the increase in pressure, built up when the piston reaches the end of both or either of its strokes, to actuate a control valve whereby pressure is applied to the opposite sides of the piston to cause a return stroke. This method is varied by arbitrarily building up a pressure to cause shifting of a control'valve after a predetermined interval calculated to permit independent movement of the reciprocator piston.

The arrangement shown in Fig.`3 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1,'except that a packer not shown is used to seal off the area between the casing 5 and tubing string 6, and this space is utilized for the actuating column in place of the macaronij 1. With this arrangement, the reciprocator is identical to the construction shown in Fig. 15, with the exception that ports 96 are` Operation oi this arrangement is .the same as that shown in Fig. 1.

Though I have shown and described certain embodiments of my 'invention and methods of operation, I dov not wish to be limited to these embodiments or methods ibut desire to include inthe scope of my invention the constructions, combinations, arrangements, and methods as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A method of operating well pumps wherein a pump is mechanically associated with a hydraulically responsive reciprocator, both being located within a Well bore, characterized by: establishing a production fluid column from the pump to the surface of the well and communieating with the reciprocator in a manner tending to urge the pump through its `return stroke: establishing an actuating fluid column communicating with the'reciprocator in a manner tending to urg/e the pump through its pumping stroke; maintaining a back pressure on the production column which, with the hydrostatic head afforded bythe production column, is in excess of the hydrostatic head of the actuating column and calculated to cause a return stroke of the pump within a predetermined relatively short interval; and applying hydraulic pressure for a relatively long interval to the actuating column which, with the hydrostatic head allorded thereby, exceeds the combined pressure exerted by the production ycolumn and its back pressure and is calculated. to cause an actuating stroke of the pump whereby the actuating stroke interval materially exceeds the return stroke interval.

2. In an operating apparatus for well pumps, the combination with an actuating iiuid` pump;

of a control valve including an intake communiating fluid pump through either delivery-discharge port and return through the other, and a pressure responsive device associated with each delivery-discharge port and operatively connected with said valve member to reverse the flow of fluid through said delivery-discharge ports when the pressure of actuating fluid discharging through either of said ports reaches a predetermined peak pressure; a hydraulic reciprocator; a pair of conduits communicating between said reciprocator and said control valve; and a regulator interposed in one of said conduits including means for maintaining a back pressure therein.

3. The combination with a well pump suspended from a production string within a well bore and having an upwardly extending operating rod; of an operating apparatus comprising: a reciprocator interposed in said production string including a cylinder adapted to receive the operating rod of the well pump, a plunger within said cylinder joined to the operating rod and forming with the cylinder expansible chambers above and below thehplunger, means for passing production fluid between the portions of the production string around the cylinder, and ports connecting the upper chamber with the production string; an actuating fluid conduit extending from the mouth of the well through said production string and communicating with the lower chamber; means for maintaining'a pressure in the production string and upper chamber normally in suflicient excess of the pressure in the actuating fluid conduit and lower chamber to drive the piston downwardly in a relatively short interval; and an lnstrumentality for periodically raising the pressure in the lower chamber above the pressure in the upper chamber for relatively long intervals.

4. The combination with a well pump suspended from a production string within a well bore and having an upwardly extending operating rod; of an operating apparatus comprising: a reciprocator interposed in said production string including a'cylinder adapted to receive the operating rod of the well pump, a plunger within said cylinder joined to the operating rod and forming with the cylinder expansible chambers above and below the plunger, means for passing production fluid between the portionsv of the production string around the cylinder, and ports connecting the upper chamber with the production string; an actuating uid conduit extending from the mouth of the well through said production string and communicating with the lower chamber; means for maintaining a pressure in the production string and upper chamber normally in excess of the pressure in the actuating fluid conduit and lower chamber; an instrumentality for periodically raising the pressure in the lowerchamber above the pressure in the upper chamber; and means for arbitrarily spacing the periods of operation of said instrumentality to permit return movement of the piston under urge of said pressure maintaining means.

5. In the art of raising well fluids wherein a hydraulically responsive movable member is operatively associated with a well pump and is movable to eiect intake and return strokes thereof, the method of z establishing a column of well fluid and a column of actuating fluid separated by said movable member; maintaining the well fluid under a back pressure to overbalance the actuating iiuid column in suiiicient excess to cause comparatively rapid return strokes of the well pump; and augmenting the pressure of the actuating column to overbalance the well fluid column, and so regulating such augmentation to cause an intake stroke of relatively long duration.

6. An apparatus for operating well pumps, comprising: a hydraulic reciprocator unit adapted to fit within a well bore and a well pump operatively connected therewith; a production column from the well pump communicating with one side of said reciprocator; means for maintaining a back pressure on said production column to urge said reciprocator relatively rapidly in a direction to drive the well pump through its return stroke; an actuating fluid column connected with said reciprocator; an instrumentality for introducing a fluctuating fluid pressure through said actuating column in opposition to said back pressure, said fluctuating fluid pressure having a major value exceeding said back pressure and a minor value less than said back pressure; and a regulator device located at the mouth of the well and associated with said instrumentality to control the period of minor pressure.

7. An apparatus for operating well pumps, comprising: a hydraulic reciprocator unit adapted to t within a well bore and a well pump operatively connected therewith; a production column from the well pump communicating with one side of said reciprocator; means for maintaining a back pressure on said production column to urge said reciprocator relatively rapidly in a direction to drive the well pump through its return stroke; an actuating column connecting the reciprocator with the well mouth and overbalanced by said production column; means for supplying pressure to said actuating column in excess of said production column; a device responsiveA to pressures in said actuating column for disconnecting said pressure supplying means; and means for reconnecting said pressure supplying means with said actuating column including a regulator for variablyV controlling the interval of disconnection.

8. An apparatus for operating well pumps: a hydraulic reciprocator unit within a well bore and a well pump mechanically connected therewith; a compressible production column, and a comparatively incompressible actuating column operatively connected with said reciprocator and extending therefrom to the mouth of the well bore; means for maintaining a back pressure on said production column whereby said column overbalances the actuating column suiiiciently to urge the well pump, by means of the reciprocator, rapidly through its return stroke; a continuously available source of uld pressure for said actuating column, the pressure and delivery rate from said source being so regulated as to drive said well pump, by means of the actuating column and reciprocator, comparatively slowly through its pumping stroke; means for controlling the connection of said pressure source with said actuating column including a; device responsive to pressure surge in said actuating column for disconnecting said pressure source from said 4actuating column, and a variable time delay means for arbitrarily regulating the period of disconnection.

9. The combination with a well pump, a reciprocator therefor located within a well bore, a compressible production column leading from said pump to the well mouth and communicating with said reciprocator to cause a return stroke thereof, and a comparatively incompressible actuating column extending from the reciprocator to the anneau 7 well mouth to cause an operatingr stroke thereof, nected` with aid reciprocator to urge, by means of: means for maintaining a baclr pressure on thereof, sai pump through its return stroke, said production column whereby itlnormally overand the act ating column communicating with balances said actuating column, and the expansaid reciprocator to urge, hyineans thereoi, said sion thereof tends to cause a rapid return stroke; Well pump through its return stroke, the method means for supplying at a predetermined delivery of maintaining a back pressure on said produc-u rate an augmenting pressure fluid to said actution column; to create a false head normally overating column for overbalancing: the production balancing said actuating column; maintaining column and causing a comparatively slow opera source of pressure fluid available to said actuating strolre; a device responsive to pressure surge ating column for augmenting the same and over in said actuating column to disconnect said presbalancine the production column; periodically sure huid supply; and variable time delaying connecting said pressure source with the actuatmeans for reconnecting said pressure uiol sup'- ing column until a pressure surge occurs therein, ply after an arbitr interval. and thereupon disconnecting said pressure source;

lrlln a. `Well having installed therein a well and arbitrarily regulating the interval of discourpumpna reciprocator, and production and actunection between the pressure source and actuatating huid columns extending to the mouth of the ing column. well, the production column bein@ adapted to HERBERT M. .1 receive the discharge from said pump and con- 

